Follow-up After Tender Accepted

We haven't heard anything from Elderton's office within 4 weeks after we accepted the tender.  The suspense was really killing us.  We spent the last 4 weeks getting inspirations for house decorations, internal and external color schemes, landscape designs etc.  With the plethora of options, we are now screwed!!  Are we going for a warm or cold palette? Do we go for a rustic theme or contemporary design? Should a we go for a timber look tile or a plain grey polished tile? Ok now... don't fret.  We will someday find our groove as we continue to look for more inspirations.

Alas! Finally Elderton contacted us after the 4th week. The latest variation (removal of smart hub and revision for the bedroom layout to make rooms a little wider) came in. Elderton also scheduled us for a color selection appointment in mid-April.

We were instructed to pick the bricks and roof tiles before going to the color selection appointment.  We need to visit Austral brickyard in Horsely Park - which we had already done.  We thought of going for a darkish facade, so the bricks that took our attention were Blackbutt (Wilderness Range) and Orpheus (Whitsunday range).   Next assignment was to visit Boral Display centre to pick the roof tiles. 

Tender Accepted

After a month, the final pricing came out and we accepted the tender.  A payment of $4,000 was also done for the tender deposit.

Final Tender

When Elderton came back from the break, we had requested for a re-tender.  Our major concern was to cut some upgrades and put in some little ones. This was really starting to be a test of our budgeting skills or lack thereof.

Here's the list off all changes we had on the tender/re-tender... (ones with the strikethrough were the ones that we didn't proceed with)

• New layout for WIP-Laundry-Powder-Garage storeroom
• Additional theatre room with sliding door
• Hume Nexus door 1020mm x 2040mm
• Alfresco stacker door
• Window splashback
• Flyscreens to laundry door and alfresco stacker door
• Obscure glazing to ensuite and bathroom windows
• Larger shower in ensuite
• Understairs storeroom (credit for linen removal)
• Soundproofing on walls
• Privacy locks
• Platinum Range Staircase
• Kitchen bulkheads
• Larger benchtop (length 1000mm)
• Benchtop waterfall edges
• Gold range vanities
• Shampoo nook to ensuite and bathroom
• Round rain shower
• NBN smart hub
• NBN wiring provision
• Move gaspoint to alfresco
• Provide weatherproof powerpoint
• Additional 15 downlight wiring provisions
• Facebrick letterbox
• 3x facade wall lights
• Remove ground floor coverings (credit)
• Remove porch and alfresco coverings (credit)
• Entry feature balcony (Facade requirement from the estate)
• Provisional allowances for Landscaping and Tiling
• Plus a discounted 12 months home price guarantee

Overall, we were quite satisfied with the price as it sat on our budget.  We would love to add more but at that stage, we had to limit ourselves.  We were giving ourselves a little buffer for anything that comes up throughout the build process.